Australian hostel operators set to escape charges

The operators of the Australian hostel where an Irish woman and 14 other backpackers died in a fire six years ago look set to escape charges over the blaze.

Limerick woman Julie O'Keefe was killed in a blaze that engulfed the Palace Backpackers' Hostel in the town of Childers in June 2000.

Fruit-picker, Robert Long, has been jailed for life for starting the fire.

The inquest into the deaths has been reopened to examine whether charges should be brought against the operators due to breaches of fire safety regulations.

It heard earlier this week that no fire inspection had been carried out, a faulty fire alarm had been turned off, windows had been barred and an emergency exit was blocked.

A lawyer working for the inquest said today that there was insufficient evidence to bring further charges over the fire.

The coroner is due to hand down his findings on Friday.